Guangzhou Automobile Motor Corporation Limited (GAC Motor) has made its presence in the Philippine market, with a grand launch that was made in the presence of the Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Governor Chavit Singson, the President and Chairman of Legado Motor, has officially made his mark in the automotive industry by being the official distributor of GAC Motor. The team has unveiled five of the brand’s best selling models globally, namely, the GA4 compact sedan, GA8 executive sedan, GS4 subcompact SUV, GS8 midsize SUV, and GM8 premium MPV.
“We at Legado Motors are committed to provide world-class vehicles at affordable prices,” LMI Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wilbert Lim, shared.
According to GAC Motor, “All of its vehicles received five-star ratings from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center’s China-New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) crash test, making this prestigious brand the only full five-star safety rating car in China. Moreover, GAC Motor ranked number 1 in the J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study for five consecutive years from 2013 to 2017.”
Ever since the brand has been participating at the Detroit Auto Show, their cars have indeed caught my attention, and it is for the better. The brand is serious in expanding to Western markets, bidding on the brand’s stringent quality standards and comprehensive R&D facilities and partners to become successful in the global arena. Their aim is to be able to sell a million cars by 2020.
What has truly caught my attention about GAC’s vehicles are its design and build quality. In a world where Chinese cars often receive flak from the public due to their copycat designs and poor quality, GAC stood out to me as the exact opposite of all those.
A close look at their cars show a design that’s truly original and organic, and there are neat details in many places around their cars, too, like the Trumpchi insignia on the head and tail lights. In the Chinese market, GAC’s cars are branded as Trumpchi, but due to the name being too closely related to United States’ President Donald Trump, the cars will be sold globally as GACs.
There’s more good news, too. Upon close inspection of GAC’s initial line-up, I was left very impressed with the panel gaps, as well as the interior fit and finish. The buttons and switches felt nice and very premium. This holds especially true with the interiors of the GM8, GA8, and GS8 flagship models.
Here’s a first look at each of GAC Motor’s vehicles, all of which come with a comprehensive 5-year/100,000 km warranty.
GA4
The GA4 is a compact sedan that’s designed to rival class leaders such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, but at a price that tops out at just a little below P1 million. Available as a 1.5-liter petrol manual and 1.3-liter turbo petrol automatic, the GA4 offers plenty of features as well as a spacious interior at a price that undercuts most of its mainstream rivals. The naturally-aspirated 1.3-liter petrol variant costs P788,000, while the top trim 1.5-liter turbo petrol variant (as shown) tops out at P988,000.
GA8
Representing the flagship of GAC’s sedan line-up, the GA8 is an executive sedan that measures just a little over five meters long. Available in five-seater or a luxurious four-seat version, the GA8 is priced alongside class leaders such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, but is a size class higher. The five-seater GE variant (as shown) costs P1,988,000, while the four-seater GL variant costs P2,288,000.
GS4
As the brand’s compact SUV, the GS4 competes with the likes of the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson, but at a price that’s more closely matched to cars such as the Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Kona. The GS4 brings to the table loads of standard equipment at a price that also undercuts all of its rivals spec-by-spec. A single variant is offered for the GS4, which costs P1,188,000.
GS8
The GS8 is the brand’s flagship SUV, offering the same level of premium appointments and luxury from juggernauts such as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Ford Explorer, but at a price that’s aimed squarely at the PPV segment, such as the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. Two variants are available, with the 4×2 starting at P1,880,000, while the 4×4 (as shown) tops out at P2,388,000.
GM8
The GM8 serves as the brand’s flagship MPV, rivalling vehicles such as the Toyota Alphard, but at a price that’s significantly less than its chief competitor. It offers plenty of luxury and comfort features, as well as an extremely plush and premium interior. A single fully-loaded variant is available, which is priced at P2,880,000.
So, did GAC’s vehicles change your perception towards Chinese cars?
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